The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-02
GARFIELD's MENTOR FARM.
His Estate Larger than Generally Supposed
Making the Farm tho Family Home

His Estate Larger than Generally Supposed
Making the Farm tho Family Home.
gainesville tO.) Letter in New York sun.
The old farm in Mentor, four miles west Of
here, which Garfield bought some years before
his death. and on which be used to spend about
the happlest days of his life, is fast becoming
one of the most beautiful country residences in
the vicinity of Cleveland. None Of the family is
at present there though it has come to he recog-
nized as the family home. Mrs. Garfield and
one son and her daughter are in England. and
Uncle Joseph Rudolph, Mrs Gar6eld's brother,
stays on the place and looks after it
and after the extensive improvements which are
being made upon It. Additions have been built
to the old house, and everything that money
would DO to make it a lovely home has been
done. OF course a plumb ers bill can give no
idea of the amount of work performed, but even
plumber could hardly have the hardihood to
charge $l3, 900 for his services unless he had at
least driven by the house. and $4,000 is the
amonns which has been paid TO plumbers for
their last summers vsork upon the houss and its
dependencies. The other outlays have been in
proportion.
idea He ALWAYS loved the farm, and loved to
consider himself a farmer. He loved farm poo
pie and farm ways. and the plain, homely talk
OF farm peighbors. He always went away from
the Mentor home freshened and frightened in
mind and body, and with his face bropzsd and
his hands hardened hy work. Whatever charms
the excitement OF political life had for him he
was always anticipating his return to the quiet
Mentor home. and it was there he had
planned to spend the declining years of his
life. His devoted wife, in clinging to the old
place and making il a family home, is only
doing what she knew would be most pleasing
to him. Her beautiful Cleveland home is
the price che asks for it-S50. 000-is not ex
travagantiy high. Tho Washington house
brought about what the appraisers estimated it
at. $50, 600 The total appraised value of Gar
fields rea! estate WAS put down at s37, 600 IL
round numbers. He paid about 81, 600 for the
Mentor farm. though, of course at the time of
ms death II was worth much more than that.
In fact. some years before he died he put a mort
gage of So 600 upon it, which, for some reason,
he did not release for q long time, though he
was abundantly able to do SO.
Indeed, there was at the time OF General Gar
fields death very general Misrepresentation
to his financial condition. 1t was the common
opinion that ne was comparatively a DOOR man.
The fact is that he paratively a rich
man. There are here in gainesville one or two
men who are millionaires. but man hereabouts
who can command $4,000 is q rich man. Gen
eral Garfield left at the appraisers very low es-
innate. good deal over 300. 600 in almost in
stantly available assets.
1t will be remembered that he left no will.
HIS brother-in-law, Uncle JOSEPH Rudolph, was
appointed ad minstrator. and his bondsmsu
we're Dr. W. S. Streator N. r. Sherwin. and
DR.. j. P. Robinson. No man in Ohio stands
higher, in point of business honor and sound
business Judgment, than DR.. Ssreator, aud both
he and DR.. Robinson warm, intimate
friends of General Garfield Sherwin was AT
time postmaster in Cleveland and is q
sharp. shrewd little man, whose admiration for
Garfield amounted to sort of frenzy. The
amount OF the bond was 800, 600 The apprais-
ers were Dr. Robinson, E. 7. c. Adrich and
William Murray the Second Mr. Murray is
ALWAYS particular to sign himself Murray the
Second for some reason, an uncle having
joyed the distinction of being Murray the First
The appraisers filed their inventories in the
Lake county probate Office the I1th of
March, 1862. They set aside 1000 in
money, and something $1,000 in
other property for the support of
the family during the twelvemonth. and
the personal property at about 500. 900. The
entire estate. therefore, including the $37, 900
real estate amounted, according to the appraise-
ment, to between $4,000 and $4,000. So
that even had not the people with their
generous impulse to the help of the family. Gen
Garfield's wife and children would have been
left in by no means destitute circumstances.
Is was good deal of surprise to the people
here-that is, to some OF them-to learn that
the General in such cornfor table circum-
stances, and there are many who believe thai he
was worth even moro than that, and that his
have fallen much short of $500. 900 or $3.50, 000
This, however Is largely matter of specula-
ton. and is based upon the gratuitous assump-
ton that the appraisers and those near him,
who had the management of his affairs would
not overestmate his wealth do anything
died n poor man. The General had group of
bitter enemies here at his home, nearly every
man who rises to eminence has. and of
them, even thus long after his death. do not
hesitate to vent their dislike in words His
general popularity at ho-e, however, and the
reverence for his memory are still very strong,
and even some of those who do not hesitate to
speak i'll of him hero among their neighbors.
would be among the first to resent bitter word
against him from outsider.